Saturday, May 6, 2017

Why GOP Voters Still Don't Get the Budget They Want

The latest Congressional omnibus is a total crock.

How could this happen?

President Trump campaigned and won on making good deals. He fired bad
contestants every week on “The Apprentice”, but the latest budget made him look
like the one who got fired. I am glad that Trump’s an outsider, but it looks
like business as usual side-swiped him. Sure, we want people who do not
originate from within the system, but we still need people who will take on the
system, not the other way around.

The budget was a dud. I agree with Ann Coulter (again, but she still
should have shown up in Berkeley)—waiting for “next time” is like Waiting for
Godot, but even more absurd. This “next time” mentality does not exist for us.
“Next Time” will not prevent another heinous murder like Kate Steinle’s. “Next
time” doesn’t stop the illicit and pernicious drug trade poisoning our streets
and communities. I am not interested in “Next Time”. Now is the acceptable time
to get every budget done right.

The latest omnibus does not defund of Planned Parenthood. There’s no
money for the wall along the United States’ southern border, but funding for
walls in other war-torn countries in Asia and Africa. Wasn’t anyone paying attention when former
Congressman Ron Paul questioned this foreign aid racket? We spend billions
defending other borders, but pay less attention to protecting our own?

Trump, you were elected to drain the swamp, but the Swamp Thing isn’t
going down the drain without a fight. The fight for our rights and good
governance under the Constitution did not end on Election Day. We need to see
more wins like the Republican reversals in the Rust Belt. It won’t end with
confirming Neil Gorsuch, although I agree with Liberty Caucus champion Thomas
Massie that this confirmation made your election worth it. Yes, there will be
setbacks and limitations which will plague the your administration for years to
come. But I am not settling for an ending to winning.

More winning, Trump. I haven’t gotten tired of it. Have you?

No funding for the wall? That was one outstanding signature promise of
your entire campaign. Oh wait, silly me. Your press secretary Sean Spicer
jousted with Breitbart reporters that
the budget would help repair holes within 40 miles of the border fence. Hold on, Sean, those sections are not walls,
and the repairs do not constitute walls.

No wall? Really?! Trump’s bitter primary rival Ted Cruz upended Trump with
his “El Chapo Civil Asset Forfeiture” Act. How come Trump didn’t think of that?
$1.4 billion for the wall is a drop in the bucket. Hey, I welcome
constitutional executive orders which delineate the scope and discretion of the
executive departments. I think that the regulatory rollback is excellent. But
don’t stop there. We want a wall. Build the wall! Or as Milo had so gently
declared in one talk: “Build the F---king Wall!”

Where’s Mr. Trump, the man who ran the boardroom like Superman turning
the world backwards? I was hoping for something a little bit better than Howie
Mandel: “Deal or No Deal?” without any leadership or input. I want the
hard-core, hard-hitting businessman back in the saddle, i.e. the national board
room, the Oval Office!

The omnibus is bad on other levels, too. More H2-B Visas? Not OK. So
glad that US Senator Tom Cotton deliberately spoke out against that sudden
addition. No defunding Planned Murderhood? Another unkept promise. The
sanctuary city insanity is not fully resolved. Attorney General Sessions has
issued letters and blocked grants. That’s nice, but not enough. Cities should
not be getting Homeland Security grants in the first place, since they erode
local control and individual voters’ sovereignty.

The bad budgeting process is not all on Trump’s shoulders. He could
have vetoed the bill (too late!), then tell Congress: “Try again!” But why do
Republicans, even with strong majorities, run away from hard demands for
their—for our—priorities?

1. Big Business still pulls too many strings within the Republican
caucus. More Republicans need to get used to micro-donations to build their war
chests. Relying on third-house (i.e. special interest) money means that demands
for more cheap labor as well as dismissal of clear cultural priorities (like
protecting life) will win the day.

2. Republican leaders are still obsessed with appearing as the
governing party, or The Adults in the Room. Good parents are not afraid to go
crazy on their kids when they get out of line. As a teacher, I learned early
that if kids wanted to act up, calling their bluff would force them to calm
down.

3. The shrinking Establishment wing still holds levers of power (Hi,
Speaker Ryan! They haven’t fired you yet?!). They worry about what the
mainstream media thinks. The prime example of Donald Trump is not enough for
them, I guess. They’ve simply gotten too comfy with collecting their paycheck
then working for the cushy lobbyist job waiting for them after their retirement.

Then we get this from Trump: “I thought being President would be
easier.”

Almost every President thought that way, except for Lincoln, since he
trudged into office facing the dissolution of the United States, plus feuding
members of his own cabinet all around him. The crazy wife didn’t help matters.
Melania exceeds as First Lady, no doubt. Perhaps she should lead the next
budget proposals.

I still believe in electing Republicans, (I don’t agree with Coulter on
this issue) just better ones, a new fierce, robust phalanx of lawmakers
beholden to their oath of office, not the worth of their donors, i.e. David
Brat and Mark Meadows. They could then double down in the face of bad
Democratic demands. If the Democratic Party insists on shutting down the government
if they don’t get what they want, then let them live with their half-brained
scheme. Let the Democrats shut the government down! Rush Limbaugh had it right:
“The American people are ready to blame the Democrats.”